A Redditor who endured months of what they thought was heartburn was shocked to find out it was actually gallstones.
For more than a year, the original poster (OP)—Reddit user Sylph_Co—endured chest pain that felt like intense burning. Assuming it was just heartburn, they kept antacids on hand, taking them before meals that seemed to trigger discomfort.
The pain came in unpredictable bursts—sometimes disappearing for months, only to return stronger than before.
One morning, after waking up with worsening pain, the OP followed their usual routine: antacids, sitting upright, and eating saltines. But this time, nothing worked.
The discomfort turned into agony, making it impossible to stay still. "I realized at that point that heartburn probably was not meant to hurt this much," they wrote. With no other option, they drove themselves to the hospital.
"At this point, the pain was very bad, I was rating it at an 8 out of 10 (I was worried I was being dramatic), and I began throwing up," the OP recalled. "As they were tending to me, they asked, 'Do you have a family history of gallbladder issues?'
"Oh my god. Yes. My sister had hers out a few years ago, my mom had hers out, my aunt had hers out, and my grandma on that side had hers out too. How did I not think of that?!
"They gave me a bunch of meds, then took me to ultrasound, and yep. Gallstones, and actually stones stuck in the neck that would not clear, which is why the pain wouldn't stop."
A surgeon soon arrived with the news that the gallbladder needed to be removed. While an ultrasound couldn't confirm it, there was a strong suspicion of cholecystitis, an infection that makes gallstones even more dangerous.
The OP agreed to immediate surgery, and after the procedure, doctors confirmed the condition, and recovery began.
"I'm happy that I'm never going to experience that horrible 'heartburn' ever again!" they wrote, adding that they would never ignore persistent health problems again.
Redditors React
Many Reddit users responded to the post with their own experiences, with one recalling a similar ordeal, describing gallbladder pain as "such an awful pain like someone was twisting my organs".
Another revealed that they also dismissed their symptoms for years, thinking they had ulcers instead. "Gallstones are usually thought of as a disease of middle-aged people," they wrote, explaining how medical students learn to associate gallbladder issues with "fair, fat, female, fertile, and forty".
Because of that assumption, younger people often overlook the possibility.
What Causes Gallstones?
Gallstones form when substances like cholesterol and bile salts harden into solid particles inside the gallbladder. While they often go unnoticed, they can block bile ducts, causing pain, nausea, and in some cases, life-threatening infections.
According to the Mayo Clinic, gallbladder removal, or cholecystectomy, is a common procedure, often performed using a small incision and a camera for a faster recovery.
A study published in the National Library of Medicine notes that gallstone disease is more prevalent in certain genetic groups and those with diets high in fat. Symptoms can mimic acid reflux, leading some people to put off seeking medical attention until an emergency arises.
For those experiencing unexplained upper abdominal pain, doctors recommend seeking medical advice instead of self-medicating with antacids. Gallbladder attacks can become more frequent over time, and delaying treatment increases the risk of complications like cholecystitis or bile duct infections.
Newsweek has contacted Sylph_Co for comment via Reddit.
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